Elizabeth Mary Galatis

Elizabeth (Liz) Mary Galatis (nee Burch) of Plantation, FL passed away peacefully on March 8, 2018 at the age of 91. Liz was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Ted Galatis, on June 13, 2012. Liz was born in Rosebush, MI on March 29, 1926 to Charles & Noreen Burch, the middle child of eight girls and seven boys. After Liz was born, Charles and Noreen moved from the family farm in Rosebush to Pontiac, MI where they both went to work for General Motors (but never owned a car). Liz met Ted vacationing in Fort Lauderdale in 1948 and at Ted's urging she moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1949. They married in 1951 and resided on Rio Vista Boulevard until 1957, when they moved to Oleander Drive in Plantation. Liz worked at Nova High School in the mid 60's and early 70's in the graphic arts department, then joined Ted in his law office until her retirement in 1987. In 2008 Liz and Ted were recognized by the Broward County Commission as pioneers of the City of Plantation. As a dedicated supporter of the visual arts, Liz was founding member and docent at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art. After Ted's passing in 2012, Liz moved to Covenant Village of Florida in Plantation. Liz never met a stranger, making new friends wherever her travels brought her. She became known as "the cookie lady", baking ginger snap cookies and giving them away to all of her friends, from the employees at her local Publix Supermarket to the Priests and Parishioner's at St. Gregory Catholic Church where she was a regular attendee. Liz is survived by one brother, Michael Burch of Mount Verde, FL; her two sons, Ted (Donna) Galatis of Pompano Beach, FL and Charles (Elie) Galatis of Oakland, CA; her grandchildren Ann (Jon) McCaughan of Cairo, GA; Andrew Galatis of Santa Monica, CA; Kelly (Mark) Ridolfi of Atlanta, GA; Rachel Sajdak of Santa Monica, CA; and Barney (Aixa) Sajdak of Key Largo, FL; her great-grandchildren Isabella Costin, London Ridolfi and Atlas Ridolfi of Atlanta, GA; and her great grandson Dominic Sajdak of Key Largo, FL; along with numerous nieces and nephews. The family thanks all of the staff at Covenant Village and Vitas Hospice team 150 for the love and compassion they showered on Liz. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, April 6, 2018 @ 11:00 a.m. at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 200 N. University Drive, Plantation, FL 33317, with a reception to follow nearby, location TBA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Liz's name be made to the donor's favorite charity, with donation confirmation to be mailed to Ted P. Galatis, Jr., 224 Commercial Blvd., Ste. 205, Lauderdale by the Sea, FL 33308.